(a) There is established a firefighters cancer relief program, the purpose of which is to provide wage replacement benefits to firefighters who are diagnosed with certain conditions of cancer as a result of their service as firefighters.

(b) A firefighter shall be eligible for wage replacement benefits for any condition of cancer affecting the brain, skin, skeletal system, digestive system, endocrine system, respiratory system, lymphatic system, reproductive system, urinary system or hematological system that results in death, or temporary or permanent total or partial disability, provided (1) such firefighter successfully passed a physical examination upon entry into such service, or subsequent to entry, as the case may be, that failed to reveal any evidence of such cancer, (2) such firefighter has submitted to annual physical examinations subsequent to entry into such service that have failed to reveal any evidence of such cancer or a propensity for such cancer, (3) such firefighter has not used any cigarettes, as defined in § 12-285, or any other tobacco products, as defined in § 12-330a, within fifteen years of applying for wage replacement benefits pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section, (4) such firefighter has worked for not less than five years on or after February 1, 2017, as (A) an interior structural firefighter at a paid municipal, state or volunteer fire department, or (B) a local fire marshal, deputy fire marshal, fire investigator, fire inspector or such other class of inspector or investigator for whom the State Fire Marshal and the Codes and Standards Committee, acting jointly, have adopted minimum standards of qualification pursuant to § 29-298, at the time such cancer is discovered, or should have been discovered, (5) such firefighter has complied with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act standards adopted pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134 and 29 C.F.R. § 1910.156 for a period of not less than five consecutive years, and (6) such cancer is one that is known to result from exposure to heat, radiation or a known carcinogen as determined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the National Toxicology Program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. For purposes of this subsection, “interior structural firefighter” means an individual who performs fire suppression, rescue or both, inside of buildings or enclosed structures that are involved in a fire situation beyond the incipient stage, as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 1910.155.

(c) Any individual who is no longer actively serving as a firefighter but who otherwise would be eligible for wage replacement benefits pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, may apply for such benefits not more than five years from the date such individual last served as a firefighter.

(d) A firefighter or individual applying for wage replacement benefits pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be required to submit to annual physical examinations, including blood testing, during his or her active service and for a period of five years after the date such individual last served as a firefighter as a condition of receiving such benefits. An individual who no longer serves as a firefighter shall bear the cost of any physical examination required under this subsection.